Once one of the greatest silver mines in the world
Travel guide by the Japan National Tourism Organization
Iwami Ginzan literally means “Silver Mountain of Iwami,” and at one time a third of the world's supply of this precious metal came from its mines.
The mine area is spread across a group of mountains. The World Heritage site also includes Omori, the picturesque small town that administered and serviced the mines, and two ports on the coast, Yunotsu and Maji, which served as the transit points where the silver was shipped out and supplies came in.